Veteran journalist, Alabi, seeks support for journalists

…Encourages media trainees with award

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NIGERIA: A VETERAN journalist, Oloye Lekan Alabi, has charged members of the public to give full support to the media practitioners across the country so that they can perform well in national development.
Alabi said that “for the media to perform well in national development, the public needs to demonstrate greater support than hitherto in terms of responses to interviews, information and lead offers and patronage.”

Alabi, a former Chief Press Secretary and Group Public Relations Manager of Odua Investment Limited, who spoke on the topic, “Guide to a talk on mass communication in the 21st century,” also stressed on the importance of the media in the society.
The Ibadan high chief, who gave the talk at the Iwe-Iroyin Press Centre, Abeokuta to encourage the upcoming reporters who are undergoing industrial attachment, one of the prerequisite requirements to obtain Ordinary National Diploma in Mass Communication, also urged Nigerians to emulate their counterparts in other countries by contributing and giving the needed information to the media.
The beneficiaries of the veteran experiences are Mass Communication students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) Abeokuta, who are currently undergoing three months Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) with the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Alabi said: “We watch foreign channels, read foreign newspapers and magazines and see, hear how their public contribute to ‘investigative, informative, well researched and entertaining’ stories because they (the public) volunteer information, research materials, and at times fund some of these special reports.”
Similarly, the Ibadan high chief urged media practitioners within the country to stand up to their duty as watchdogs and gatekeepers of the society by informing, entertaining and educating the public, stressing that media practitioners should ensure that they are guided by their professional ethics.

He said: “A good and effective watchdog shoulders enormous responsibilities. The journalist must be guided by

professional ethics, fairness, integrity, truth and justice and personal standards viz appearance, conduct, courage, social and right of privacy, fair comments and abuse, truth and falsehood.”
The Aare Alaasa Olubadan of Ibadan land, on the occasion, gave books, meant to aid journalism career, to some outstanding cub journalists.

The recipients included Odeyemi Ayobami, Omon Judith, Adegoke Blessing, Johnson Idowu, Kemi Sokoya, Mariam Ajeigbe, Tobi Olabamiji, Sodiq Sanni, Rachael Obileye and Abigael Emmanuel.
In his remark, former Zonal Secretary Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Prince Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, told the cub reporters to see the presence of the guest lecturer as a golden opportunity that would remain memorable in their career.
The ex-NUJ scribe, who oversees the cub reporters activities, enjoined them to shun laziness.

He urged them to always show commitment to their training, while stressing that showing passion for the profession will lead them to greater height.
Kayode-Adedeji also stated that journalism practice should be 70 percent practical oriented, while theory could be 30 percent.

He, therefore, pointed out that the practical aspect makes a good journalist, hence the need to avoid armchair journalism.
The journalist affirmed that those that were rewarded by Alabi got the award on merit, stressing that he can vouch for all the winners having observed their diligence to duty.
“I want to encourage you to see the coming of our veteran as a golden opportunity, at your level. Let this day remain memorable in your chosen career,” Kayode-Adedeji stated.

“Some of your senior colleagues are looking for this opportunity, but can’t get it, so count yourself lucky and don’t disappoint the union by the time you get into full practice,” he added.
He further stressed: “On those who won the book awards, I can say boldly that they merit the awards because having work closely with them for the past nine weeks, I know I can vouch for them as their recommendation for the award is without any doubt.”

• By Sanni Sodiq, Ayinde Abiodun, Johnson Idowu and Odeyemi Ayobami